The EU’s foreign policy chief on Monday rejected Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could represent Europe in future talks with Moscow on European security arrangements.
Putin told reporters on Saturday that he believed the war was “coming to an end”, and said he would be open to negotiating new security terms with Europe, ideally via Schröder as a mediator.
But Kaja Kallas dismissed the offer this morning as she arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
“If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, you know, that would not be very wise,” she said, adding that as Schroder had lobbied for Russian state companies, “he would be sitting on both sides of the table”.
After leaving office in 2005, Schroeder almost immediately took a job as chairman of a controversial German-Russian gas pipeline consortium and has faced heavy criticism in Germany for his closeness to Putin.
European Council President Antonio Costa said last week he believed there was "potential" for the EU to negotiate with Russia, and to discuss the future of the security architecture of Europe.
Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile US-brokered ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
The fear behind the fanfare: Putin’s paranoia amid Victory Day celebrations
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Ukrainians seeking cultural escape from war’s brutality find comfort and resilience at Kyiv art fair
Key Points
- Putin says Ukraine war 'coming to an end'
- Germany sceptical on Putin's suggestion of Schroeder role in Ukraine peace talks
- Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of violating ceasefire
- Germany divided after Putin floats Schroder as Ukraine mediator
Follow latest updates on Russia-Ukraine war here
04:32 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine war live: Zelensky calls for ‘airport ceasefire’ but says Putin won’t end war
Putin says Ukraine war 'coming to an end'
Monday 11 May 2026 04:13 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussian president Vladimir Putin said he believes the Ukraine war is “coming to an end,” remarks made shortly after Russia held a noticeably scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow.
Putin also hinted at possible future negotiations on European security and floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential intermediary, though many European leaders rejected the idea.
Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of violating ceasefire
Monday 11 May 2026 04:28 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine and Russia accused each other of repeatedly violating a US-backed temporary ceasefire almost immediately after it came into effect.
Kyiv reported continued drone strikes, battlefield clashes, and civilian deaths, while Moscow claimed Ukrainian drones and shelling targeted Russian territory and positions.
Despite the truce reducing some large-scale attacks, both sides said fighting never truly stopped.
Germany sceptical on Putin's suggestion of Schroeder role in Ukraine peace talks
Monday 11 May 2026 04:44 , Maroosha MuzaffarGermany rejected Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could help mediate peace talks between Russia and the European Union over Ukraine.
Putin had named Schröder as his preferred intermediary after European Council president Antonio Costa said there was “potential” for talks with Moscow about Europe’s future security structure.
But German officials dismissed the idea as not credible, saying Russia had not changed any of its demands on Ukraine or shown serious interest in negotiations.
One official told Reuters the Kremlin was making bogus offers aimed at dividing Western allies and said a real test of Russia’s intentions would be whether it agreed to extend a temporary three-day ceasefire.
Schröder remains controversial in Germany because of his close ties to Putin and his work with Russian energy companies after leaving office. Berlin also stressed that any talks involving the EU must be closely coordinated with Ukraine and European member states.
Latvian defence minister resigns after Ukrainian drones hit oil tanks
Monday 11 May 2026 04:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarLatvian defence minister Andris Spruds resigned after two Ukrainian drones crossed into Latvia from Russia and struck oil storage tanks in the eastern city of Rezekne.
Latvian prime minister Evika Silina demanded his resignation, saying the country’s anti-drone systems were not activated quickly enough.
The incident prompted Latvia and neighbouring Lithuania to urge Nato to strengthen air defences in the Baltic region.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the drones were Ukrainian but claimed they had been deliberately diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare while targeting sites inside Russia.
Ukraine also said it was considering sending experts to help improve Baltic air security after the incident.
Moscow accuses Armenia for giving Zelensky platform for ‘anti-Russia remarks’
Monday 11 May 2026 05:18 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia criticised Armenia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made remarks in Yerevan suggesting Russia feared possible drone attacks over Moscow’s Red Square during the 9 May Victory Day parade.
The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused Armenia of giving Zelenskyy “a platform for anti-Russian remarks” and said Moscow expected an explanation from Yerevan.
Peskov stressed that Russia did not want Armenia to adopt an “anti-Russian stance”, AS growing tensions between the two longtime allies as Armenia moves closer to Western and European partners.
Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile US-brokered ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
Monday 11 May 2026 05:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia has accused Kyiv of breaking a US-brokered ceasefire, while Ukrainian officials claimed one person had been killed and more injured by Russian drone and artillery strikes in the past 24 hours.
Two people were injured by Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region, the area's Moscow-installed leader Vladimir Saldo said on Sunday.
Separately, Russia’s ministry of defence accused Kyiv of committing more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, state media reported, citing a daily briefing on Sunday. The ministry stated Ukrainian forces had attacked civilian targets in several Russian regions and carried out strikes against Russian military positions on the frontline.
Read more here:
Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
Germany divided after Putin floats Schroder as Ukraine mediator
Monday 11 May 2026 06:17 , Maroosha MuzaffarVladimir Putin recently suggested that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder could help negotiate peace in Ukraine, saying he believes the war may be “coming to an end”.
The idea divided opinion in Germany. Former lawmaker Michael Roth said a mediator “cannot be Putin’s buddy” and stressed that Ukraine should decide who can take part in peace talks.
“Neither Moscow nor we can decide that on Kyiv’s behalf,” he said in an interview with Tagesspiegel.
But some members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party said the proposal should still be “carefully considered” with European partners.
Schroder has stayed close to Russian president Putin even after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He also worked on major Russian energy projects, including the Nord Stream gas pipelines and the Russian oil company Rosneft.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner expected to visit Moscow soon
Monday 11 May 2026 06:50 , Maroosha MuzaffarKremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said on Sunday that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow soon for fresh talks aimed at pushing forward peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine, according to news agency Interfax.
The planned visit comes as a fragile three-day ceasefire brokered by the US faced strain, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of continued attacks and battlefield clashes.
Donald Trump had presented the temporary truce, announced during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, as a possible first step toward ending the war.
However, Ukrainian officials reported deadly Russian drone strikes and hundreds of frontline clashes after the ceasefire began, while Russia accused Ukraine of launching dozens of drones into Russian territory.
EU's Kallas criticises Putin’s suggestion of Schroder as mediator in peace talks
Monday 11 May 2026 07:12 , Maroosha MuzaffarEuropean Union’s Kaja Kallas criticised Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder could help mediate Ukraine peace talks.
Kallas said Schroder, who worked with Russian state energy companies after leaving office, would effectively be “sitting on both sides of the table”.She added that it “would not be wise to give Russia right to negotiate on our behalf”.
Her remarks came after Putin proposed Schroder as a possible intermediary between Russia and the European Union, a suggestion that has sparked criticism across Europe because of Schroder’s long-standing ties to the Kremlin and Russian energy interests.
Kremlin dismisses Zelensky’s remarks over Victory Day parade as ‘silly joke’
Monday 11 May 2026 07:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who earlier said Russian authorities “fear drones may buzz over Red Square” during Moscow’s Victory Day parade, later joked that the area would temporarily be spared from Ukrainian strikes so the celebrations could proceed.The Kremlin dismissed his remarks as a “silly joke”.
Earlier, a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine announced by Donald Trump on Friday eased concerns over a possible Ukrainian attack during Moscow’s Red Square Victory Day parade, though it appeared unlikely to lead to a wider peace agreement.
Earlier unilateral ceasefires declared by both sides had quickly broken down, with Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of violations.
Trump said the leaders of both countries had agreed to pause fighting from Saturday through Monday and carry out a prisoner exchange, adding that the temporary truce could mark the “beginning of the end” of the war, which is now in its fifth year.
Hungary returns seized cash and gold shipment worth $82 million to Ukraine
Monday 11 May 2026 08:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has received a shipment of cash and gold, valued at approximately $82 million, which was seized by Hungary earlier this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Wednesday. The valuables, destined for Ukraine's state Oschadbank, were detained by Hungarian counter-terrorism authorities on 5 March while being transported in two armoured cars.
This incident sparked considerable anger in Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials accusing Hungary's pro-Russian government of acting unlawfully and leveraging the seizure as part of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s anti-Ukraine election campaign. The two neighbouring nations were already embroiled in a significant dispute concerning Hungary’s access to Russian oil via a pipeline crossing Ukrainian territory.
Read more here:
Hungary returns seized cash and gold shipment worth $82 million to Ukraine
Putin says he will only meet Zelensky once lasting peace deal agreed while claiming conflict is ‘coming to an end’
Monday 11 May 2026 08:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile US-brokered ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
Monday 11 May 2026 09:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia has accused Kyiv of breaking a US-brokered ceasefire, while Ukrainian officials claimed one person had been killed and more injured by Russian drone and artillery strikes in the past 24 hours.
Two people were injured by Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region, the area's Moscow-installed leader Vladimir Saldo said on Sunday.
Separately, Russia's ministry of defence accused Kyiv of committing more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, state media reported, citing a daily briefing on Sunday. The ministry stated Ukrainian forces had attacked civilian targets in several Russian regions and carried out strikes against Russian military positions on the frontline.
Read more here:
Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
Germany sceptical of Putin's suggestion of Schroeder role in Ukraine peace talks
Monday 11 May 2026 09:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarGermany rejected Russian president Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could help mediate peace talks between Russia and the European Union over Ukraine.
Putin had named Schröder as his preferred intermediary after European Council president Antonio Costa said there was “potential” for talks with Moscow about Europe’s future security structure.
But German officials dismissed the idea as not credible, saying Russia had not changed any of its demands on Ukraine or shown serious interest in negotiations.
One official told Reuters the Kremlin was making bogus offers aimed at dividing Western allies and said a real test of Russia’s intentions would be whether it agreed to extend a temporary three-day ceasefire.
Schröder remains controversial in Germany because of his close ties to Putin and his work with Russian energy companies after leaving office. Berlin also stressed that any talks involving the EU must be closely coordinated with Ukraine and European member states.
Moscow accuses Armenia of giving Zelensky platform for ‘anti-Russia remarks’
Monday 11 May 2026 10:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia criticised Armenia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made remarks in Yerevan suggesting Russia feared possible drone attacks over Moscow’s Red Square during the 9 May Victory Day parade.
The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused Armenia of giving Zelenskyy “a platform for anti-Russian remarks” and said Moscow expected an explanation from Yerevan.
Peskov stressed that Russia did not want Armenia to adopt an “anti-Russian stance”, AS growing tensions between the two longtime allies as Armenia moves closer to Western and European partners.
Recap: North Korea's Kim calls ties with Russia 'top priority' in Victory Day message
Monday 11 May 2026 10:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his country's commitment to its mutual defence treaty with Russia in a message to president Vladimir Putin, congratulating Russia on the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Kim reiterated North Korea's position to "give top priority" to its partnership with Russia and its commitment to "the implementation of the obligations of the inter-state treaty," according to KCNA.
Russia and North Korea in 2024 signed a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" during a visit to Pyongyang by Putin. The pact includes a mutual defence provision.
North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 troops to fight with Russian forces in Kursk during the ongoing war in Ukraine. South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials said those troops suffered heavy casualties, with more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers killed in the fighting.
Ukraine to ‘respond in kind’ if Russia refrains from mass aerial attacks, Zelensky says
Monday 11 May 2026 11:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine will hold back “long-range sanctions”, strikes on Russian military targets if Moscow does not carry out major missile or drone attacks.
“As for our long-range sanctions, yesterday and today, Ukraine refrained from long-range actions in response to the absence of massive Russian attacks. Going forward, we will respond in kind. And if the Russians decide to return to full-scale warfare, our sanctions for this will be immediate and tangible,” Zelensky said in his address.
Zelensky said that despite a three-day ceasefire announced by US president Donald Trump, Russian forces continued intense frontline combat, including more than 150 assault operations, over 100 shelling incidents, and thousands of kamikaze drone strikes over two days, The Kyiv Independent reported.
He accused Russia of failing to observe any real ceasefire on the battlefield, even though there had been no mass drone and missile attacks.
Latvian defence minister resigns after Ukrainian drones hit oil tanks
Monday 11 May 2026 11:40 , Maroosha MuzaffarLatvian defence minister Andris Spruds resigned after two Ukrainian drones crossed into Latvia from Russia and struck oil storage tanks in the eastern city of Rezekne.
Latvian prime minister Evika Silina demanded his resignation, saying the country’s anti-drone systems were not activated quickly enough.
The incident prompted Latvia and neighbouring Lithuania to urge Nato to strengthen air defences in the Baltic region.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the drones were Ukrainian but claimed they had been deliberately diverted off course by Russian electronic warfare while targeting sites inside Russia.
Ukraine also said it was considering sending experts to help improve Baltic air security after the incident.
What we know so far
Monday 11 May 2026 12:10 , Maroosha Muzaffar- Vladimir Putin said he would only meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace agreement had been reached, while also claiming the war was “coming to an end”.
- Russia and Ukraine continued accusing each other of violating the US-brokered three-day ceasefire through drone strikes, shelling and frontline clashes, despite a temporary reduction in large-scale attacks.
- US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow soon for fresh peace talks, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
- Putin suggested former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder could mediate peace talks with Europe, but the proposal sparked criticism in Germany and the EU because of Schroder’s close ties to the Kremlin and Russian energy companies.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Schroder would be “sitting on both sides of the table” and warned against allowing Russia to choose Europe’s negotiator.
- Russia accused Armenia of giving Zelensky a platform for “anti-Russian remarks” after his comments in Yerevan about possible drone threats to Moscow’s parade.
- Latvian defence minister Andris Spruds resigned after Ukrainian drones crossed into Latvia from Russia and struck oil storage tanks, prompting Baltic calls for stronger Nato air defences.
Recap: Putin claims war ‘coming to an end’ after suggesting ally as peace mediator
Monday 11 May 2026 12:30 , James ReynoldsRussian president Vladimir Putin said he believed the war is “coming to an end” as Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a fragile US-backed ceasefire through drone strikes and clashes along the front lines.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian attacks continued in eastern regions despite the three-day truce, deepening Kyiv’s doubts about Moscow’s intentions.
Meanwhile, during Russia’s scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow, North Korean troops marched alongside Russian forces for the first time. The parade was a far cry from past years, where it has been used to show off Russia’s vast military, including its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters about the war, which he started more than four years ago.
He also said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be Germany’s former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
However, many European leaders rejected the idea because of Schroeder’s close ties to the Kremlin.
UK faces biggest fall in consumer confidence since start of Ukraine war, research suggests
Monday 11 May 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsBritish consumer confidence has seen the sharpest quarterly decline since the onset of the war in Ukraine, a new report suggests, as the Iran conflict continues to cause financial concern for Britons.
The decline in consumer sentiment, which indicates how likely people are to spend or save in the future, is coupled with concerns around a fresh cost of living crisis as uncertainty remains around the full impact the Iran war will have on food and energy costs.
More than 2,000 British consumers were surveyed about their confidence as part of accounting firm PwC’s quarterly survey after the Easter Bank Holiday in April. Optimism dropped from -1 to -13, the biggest quarterly fall since June 2022.
UK marks biggest fall in consumer confidence since Ukraine war began, research says
Recap" Germany's Schroeder no 'honest broker' in Ukraine talks, says German official
Monday 11 May 2026 14:25 , James ReynoldsGermany's top official for Europe on Monday dismissed a suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin that former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could mediate between Russia and Europe to secure a peace deal in Ukraine.
Schroeder "has not exactly done everything in the past to be able to act as a neutral mediator, an 'honest broker,' so to speak," Minister of State for Europe Gunther Krichbaum said in Brussels.
"He is, and certainly has been, heavily influenced by Mr Putin - close friendships may be legitimate anywhere in the world, but they do not help one to be perceived as an impartial mediator," Krichbaum said.
EU imposes sanctions on Russia individuals, entities in Russia over Ukrainian children
Monday 11 May 2026 14:54 , James ReynoldsThe European Union has imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and seven entities in Russia for systematic unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, the EU Council said in a statement on Monday.
* Russia is estimated to have deported and forcibly transferred nearly 20,500 Ukrainian children since the war began, the EU Council said.
* These actions constitute grave breaches of international law and violate children's fundamental rights, aiming to erase Ukrainian identity and undermine future generations, it added.
* Entities listed today include federal institutions linked to Russia's Ministry of Education, the EU Council said.
* The listings also name officials and politicians from Russia‑occupied territories, along with leaders of youth camps and military‑patriotic organisations.
* Those listed are subject to asset freezes, while EU citizens and companies are barred from providing them with funds or economic resources, and individuals face an EU travel ban, the Council said.
The latest: Russia and Ukraine trade blame for continued fighting
Monday 11 May 2026 15:16 , James ReynoldsA US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was due to expire on Monday with both sides accusing each other of breaching the 72-hour arrangement, as American and European officials considered how they might steer the warring countries into further talks.
Ukrainian authorities said Monday that Russian drones, bombs and artillery shelling struck civilian areas of the northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson regions, killing at least two people and wounding seven others.
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday accused Kyiv of committing more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, state media reported.
Russia and Ukraine trade blame for continued fighting as US-brokered ceasefire nears its end
Watch: Putin claims Russia-Ukraine war is 'coming to an end'
Monday 11 May 2026 15:45 , James ReynoldsFrontline clashes mount despite US ceasefire
Monday 11 May 2026 16:15 , James ReynoldsThe General Staff of Ukraine's military said on Monday that 180 battlefield clashes had been recorded along the front line over the previous 24 hours.
Russian forces had on Sunday deployed "kamikaze" drones and artillery in attacks on settlements and military positions, it said in a Monday morning update.
In its afternoon report, the General Staff said Russian troops had carried out 38 new assaults on Ukrainian positions, adding: "Artillery shelling of border areas continues."
Regional governors in Ukraine reported early on Monday that at least three people had been killed in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia and southern Kherson regions over the past 24 hours.
UK sanctions dozens over 'Russian campaign to deport and indoctrinate Ukrainian children'
Monday 11 May 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe United Kingdom has sanctioned dozens of people and entities allegedly involved in the forced deportation, indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian children.
New measures target 29 people linked to a Russian campaign to forcibly deport and militarise children, and a further 56 linked to information warfare.
More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia and within the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Among those forcibly deported, an estimated 6,000 children have reportedly been taken to re‑education camps and subjected to propaganda designed to erase Ukrainian identity.
As part of their response, the UK unveiled an additional £1.2m in funding to help identify and return Ukrainian children to their homes and communities.
China’s axis of authoritarians is only growing stronger under Trump
Monday 11 May 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsAs Xi Jinping prepares to host Donald Trump in Beijing, America’s allies are confronting an unsettling reality: Washington no longer looks dependable, says Ben Judah:
China’s axis of authoritarians is only growing stronger under Trump
Recap: Ukrainians mark Victory Day of Nazism in Kyiv
Monday 11 May 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
Recap: Ukrainian sailor who fled war trapped on ship in Strait of Hormuz
Monday 11 May 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsA Ukrainian sailor stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for more than two months has described the terror of Iranian rockets flying overhead as his crew found themselves caught in the crossfire of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The senior assistant captain was on his debut voyage as first mate when hostilities erupted at the end of February, casting the region into a bitter conflict interrupted only in part by a fragile ceasefire agreement in April.
The sailor told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne on condition of anonymity how they could only watch on as three missiles “literally flew over our heads” as Iran opened fire on its neighbours on the afternoon of 28 February.
Ukrainian sailor who fled war trapped on ship in Strait of Hormuz
Recap: Putin claims Russia-Ukraine war is 'coming to an end'
Monday 11 May 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsEU targeting Russia's military industrial complex in 21st sanctions package
Monday 11 May 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsThe EU is targeting Russia's military industrial complex in a 21st package of sanctions currently being discussed by the member states, EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
"We are targeting the military industrial complex of Russia and of course member states can put forward ideas on shadow fleet as well," Kallas said.
The EU approved the 20th package of sanctions against Russia last month as well as a 90 billion euro ($106.07 billion) loan to Ukraine.
Special Dispatch: Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Monday 11 May 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsWorld affairs editor Sam Kiley meets the founder of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Azov movement, Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province:
Ukrainian general’s rise from far-right agitator to war hero
Zelensky's ex-chief of staff named as suspect in major corruption probe
Tuesday 12 May 2026 00:38 , Alex RossUkrainian authorities on Monday named Volodymyr Zelensky's powerful former chief of staff as a suspect in a major corruption probe, a move likely to pile pressure on the president's office at a sensitive moment in the war with Russia.
Kyiv's political class was rocked by a wide-ranging investigation last year that had fueled public anger and prompted the ex-top adviser and Zelensky's right-hand man, Andriy Yermak, to resign.
In a statement, Ukraine's anti-graft agencies said Yermak is suspected of participating in a criminal group that laundered around $10.5 million through an elite housing development outside the capital Kyiv.
The agencies did not name Yermak, in line with Ukrainian law, but he was widely identified by local media. Speaking to Ukrainian outlet Radio Liberty, he denied owning real estate in the development but did not comment further.
The case is part of a broader probe into high-level graft first unveiled last November, when a former Zelensky business partner was accused of running a $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency.
Russia has no intention of ending the war - Zelensky
01:20 , Alex RossVolodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia has no intention of ending the more than four-year-old war with his country and Kyiv was preparing for further attacks.
Zelensky made his comments as a US-mediated ceasefire linked to Russia's 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany drew to a close, with each side accusing the other of violating it.
He also spoke two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the conflict was coming to an end.
"Today there was no silence on the front line. Combat actions have continued," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Zelenskiy holds call with UAE counterpart
02:30 , Alex RossVolodymyr Zelensky on Monday discussed with the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE's assistance in bringing Ukrainians back from Russian captivity and the war in Iran.
Since the start of the wake of the Iran war, Ukraine has offered its battle-tested expertise in countering drones to the UAE and a handful of other Middle Eastern countries. Kyiv and the UAE struck a 10-year defence cooperation deal.
"I was glad to hear that Ukrainian expertise is truly helping to build reliable protection for lives. We discussed continuing this work," Zelensky said on X.
"I am grateful to the UAE that our agreements are being implemented on the basis of reciprocity and that Ukraine is also receiving the support it needs, including in the energy sector," Zelensky added.
